Texans' TE Daniels returns to form

Associated Press

Updated 8:41 pm, Saturday, November 3, 2012

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) lands with the ball against Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) lands with the ball against Baltimore Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (59) during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at Reliant

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) celebrates a touchdown catch with running back Justin Forsett (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) celebrates a touchdown catch with running back Justin Forsett (28) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, in

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) runs toward the end zone against the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Houston. (Brett Coomer / Houston

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) dives over Tennessee Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner (20) as he goes into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Houston.

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) dives over Tennessee Titans cornerback Alterraun Verner (20) as he goes into the end zone for a touchdown during the third quarter at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, Sept.

Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels (81) runs for a touchdown as Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller (58) pursues in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP

Texans tight end Owen Daniels breaks away from a Titans defender. Daniels has a team-high 27 catches this season.

Texans tight end Owen Daniels breaks away from a Titans defender. Daniels has a team-high 27 catches this season.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Texans' TE Daniels returns to form

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HOUSTON — Last season, Owen Daniels thought he had finally returned to the player he was before tearing a knee ligament in 2009.

After comparing film from then and now, the Houston Texans tight end realizes he wasn't quite there yet.

“I can look on film and tell a difference with the way I'm moving this year compared to last year,” Daniels said. “I could probably show anybody and they could probably recognize it. So that's what I like seeing. I'm excited to see that, and hopefully I can continue to look like that and continue to move around well.”

Now that he really has returned to form, Daniels has re-emerged as one of the top tight ends in the NFL, giving the Texans' powerful offense another threat.

“He's playing right now as good as I've ever seen him play since he's been with me, and he's played pretty darn good in the past,” said Texans coach Gary Kubiak, whose AFC-leading Texans (6-1) return from their bye this week to play the Buffalo Bills (3-4) at noon today at Reliant Stadium.

“Hopefully — we keep our fingers crossed here — he stays healthy. He's on his way to a big year.”

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Daniels made the Pro Bowl in 2008 after catching 70 passes for a career-high 862 yards. He had 519 yards receiving and a team-leading five touchdowns in 2009 before injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the eighth game of the season.

He was progressing well in his rehabilitation from that injury before doctors discovered a stress fracture in his right kneecap, which slowed his progress. He returned to play 11 games in 2010, but his 471 yards receiving were the fewest he'd had since finishing with 352 as a rookie in 2006.

Daniels started 15 games and had 677 yards receiving a year ago.

“I know I felt pretty good at times last season,” Daniels said. “I felt like I was wearing down toward the end of the season, but sometime during last season I felt pretty good and felt more explosive. Definitely this offseason with what I was doing, I felt really, really good.”

That offseason work has carried over into the season, where he is fourth in the NFL among tight ends with 416 yards receiving and four TDs.

“I think I'm more complete,” he said. “I'm playing a lot better against the run, a lot better in pass (protection) than I was back then. I know I'm stronger than I was back then. ... I feel as good as I did back then.”